Beware! Tourist licence warning. - Page 2

That’s nuts !! So if you have a perfectly good functioning shower room with plenty of space they would turn you down because of that . That’s terrible!! 

Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be any flexibility - the minimum sizes are being enforced so even if the bathroom (or any other room) seems perfectly usable you won't get a tourist licence if the rooms are smaller than what's allowed. Puts a whole new angle on buying a property with the intention to rent it out to tourists, hence my original post. Don't buy without being certain that a licence will be granted and don't believe anyone who tells you it's a fuss about nothing. You coukd make a very expensive mistake! 

Hi Colin,

You are doing a great job and I am thankful to you. Do you know if this applies to mobile homes on the campsites?

My idea was to buy one or two on Camping Almafra.

All the best

Lawrence 

Hi Lawrence, 

Thanks - I'm only sharing what I've been finding out as I was in the process of buying a small property specifically to rent out and I wasn't happy with the agent's comments that the licence was "just a piece of paper" and nothing to worry about. I bought a holiday home in La Marina last year for personal use and I love the place. It's great value at the minute so I thought a wee pension plan would be to buy another one! Sorry I don't know anything else about mobiles or caravans etc, but definitely worth checking out! " Good luck! 

But I know there are a couple of properties near me that are identical that have the license ? Even though the bathroom size is small ? 

In addition to Agents giving out incorrect information, a Notary we saw for a will last year advised us we didn’t need a licence. A number of Aborgados also said we didn’t need a licence, or didn’t know anything about them. Fortunately we knew we did and got one through an Aborgado who was well aware of the process. 

Sadly, I've become very cynical since starting out on the journey of buying a place in Spain. It pays to accept nothing at face value - research and triple check everything! It can be a pain but there's too many people who act out of self interest and will say anything to get a sale. 

Mmmm, welcome to the wonderful world of Spain. Sometimes it's hard to understand how rules and regulations are applied and there can be inconsistencies. Perhaps those properties obtained licences a while ago before the authorities started to clamp down? 

With regards to tourist licence does this apply to long term lets also? I will be looking for a long term let next year but they appear to be quite difficult to get hold of, maybe now more owners would consider renting out this way. Wouldnt make as much income but surely some is better than nothing.

Long lets do not come under the holiday lets rules. The government wants to encourage these whilst discouraging holiday lets to protect the hotels. The contract is called "vivienda" and you must be prepared to rent for three years (shortly to be upped to five as it was not so long ago). The tenant can give you one month's notice to leave  but you as landlord are commited for three years. You can raise the rent annually in line with the index IPC. From my point of view, it's much less hassle than holiday letting and more rewarding also especially with the tax relief of 60% of income which can't be claimed for holiday lets. If you live outside Spain it's best to get an agent to give you a full management service as we do for the small house we own in England.